 Let’s face it, this “most wonderful time of the year” can also be quite hectic. Whether it’s traveling, hosting guests, attending parties and potlucks, volunteering, or any other activity, many of your employees have a lot more than work going on this month.
All of these extra happenings can bring a lot of joy, but they can also bring a lot of stress. When employees are over-stressed or dealing with hectic schedules, they tend to drop healthy habits, can get sick more easily, and can become disengaged with their work.
Here are three ways to help your employees stay healthy and happy with all the hustle and bustle of this time of year:
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Think outside the traditional “holiday potluck” – Potlucks are a great way to bring employees together and allow time for connection. Since we all have plenty of opportunities to splurge on high-fat, high-sugar foods this time of year, why not encourage your employees to bring foods that will provide some nutritional value and an energy boost, rather than empty calories that can lead to the afternoon slump? One local company, Salvation Army, recently gathered employees for a Grain Bowl (also called “Buddha Bowls” in the vegan community) Potluck. Buddha Bowls are a blueprint for different combinations of whole grains, proteins (typically plant-based), vegetables, nuts/seeds, and dressings. This visual provides a list of some of the different ingredients you could include. Have your employees sign up for an ingredient, provide bowls and cutlery, and everyone can build their own bowl.
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Offer our Health@Work Frosty Challenge campaign – This popular weight-maintenance campaign focuses, yes, on maintaining weight, but goes beyond the scale to empower your employees to develop mindful, healthy eating habits, move more, sleep better, manage stress, have fun in the kitchen, and more. If you missed the October training, you can still contact us to get everything you need to implement this campaign in your workplace this winter! The cost is just $35, and you can start the challenge at any time that works best for your workplace. Please note that the materials are not meant for the individual, but rather for workplace wellness coordinators to use in the workplace.
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Practice gratitude – Help employees relieve some of the added stress they may feel this time of year by showing them that they are appreciated. The great thing about gratitude is that it positively affects both the receiver and the giver. People who regularly practice gratitude experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, and even have stronger immune systems. Consider writing an e-mail or a hand-written note to a co-worker or member of your wellness team to thank them for something specific that helped you or your organization.
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